Job Description of a Labor Nurse
A labor and delivery nurse plays an essential role in the birthing process for many mothers. All labor and delivery nurses are registered nurses. Labor nurses can earn a salary of anywhere between $40,000 and $90,000 per year, according to Edudecisions.com. A labor nurse's salary depends on experience as well as other factors such as the area where the job is and the size of the employer.
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Function in High-pressure Situations
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A natural childbirth with no complications can be a high-pressure situation. The pressure involved with such a situation increases if there are complications during the birthing process. The nurse must be even-headed and calm during childbirth. She is responsible for keeping the mother calm, especially when there are complications. The nurse must be able to efficiently assist the doctor with her duties during the delivery.
Be Attentive
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Regardless of whether a woman comes into the medical facility to be induced or if she is minutes away from having her child, a labor nurse is responsible for making sure that the needs of the mother are met before, during and after the delivery. Before the delivery, a nurse can help the mother by explaining where a a mother is in the dilation process and what she can expect to happen during the delivery. In addition to assisting the doctor during the delivery, the nurse also is responsible for making sure the mother is comfortable. If there is nobody else at the hospital to help encourage the mother during delivery, the nurse takes a major role with that.
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Instruct New Mothers
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Labor nurses see several women become mothers for the first time. The nurses are responsible for instructing the mothers about how to care for their newborns. Some of the things a labor nurse might advise a new mother about include caring for the baby's belly button until the umbilical cord falls off, explaining proper breastfeeding methods and showing how to burp the baby and change his diapers.
Give Immunizations
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A newborn baby must receive a Hepatitis B vaccination before she is allowed to leave the hospital. The labor nurse is often the one responsible for administering this immunization. In addition to immunizing the child, the labor nurse also must explain to the new mother details about the other immunizations that will be needed in the coming months. The nurse often hands out information from the Center for Disease Control that offers more information on the needed immunizations.
Check Car Seats
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Often, the last thing a labor nurse will do before a newborn leaves the hospital is check the child safety seat in the car that the baby will sit in as he goes home. The nurse checks to make sure the seat belt is taut and that the car seat is approved for newborns. A labor nurse can assist in installing or re-installing a car seat if it has not been installed properly.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Scrub Nurse image by Mary Beth Granger from Fotolia.com
